The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-17

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE BRITISH
STEAMSHIP ASHDELL.

Two Hundred and Thirteen Bales of
Cotton Burned in Midstream = The
Estimated Loss 7,OOO-Theories as
to the Origin Of the Fire-A Survey
Called on the Ashdell-Another Fire.
Another was added to the already long
fist of cotton fires that have occurred with
alarming frequency at this port during the
nast monts. At 2:45 o'clock yesterday
afternoon an alarm was turned in from box
II, at Bay and jefferson streets Being at
such an early hour in the afternoon the
alarm brought out an immense crowd OF
people The fire proved to be in cotton
laden lighter lying on the outside of the
British steamship Ashdell, which is moored
TO the wharf of tx upper press, at the foot
Of Montgomery streets, loading for Reval.
BURNING FOR SOME TIME.
The fire was burning for some time before
it was discovered The crew of the Ashdell
noticed the smoke, and were at loss to To-
cate the fire. thinking all the time that it
was aboard the ship, until the flames rose
above her guards, There was brisk north
east wind blowing at the time, which famed
the fire. and the entire lighterload of 2l3 bales
was soon enveloped in flames, and burning
rapidly The tug Constitution came upon
the scene very promptly and with some diff
ficulty got the burning lighter In tow, at
the same time turning in streams OF water
on the cotton. The lighter after being
towed from her mooring drifted slowly
down the river and was finally moored to
the Propeller Tow Boat Company's wharf.
The tug Forest City steamed alongside and
played on the burning cotton the remainder
of the afternoon At o'clock the fire was
extinguished and gang of laborers was put
to work rolling the cotton on shore.
OUT OF THE FIREMEN's REACH.
The fire department arrived at the wharf
where the lighter was lying soon after the
fire broke out, but owing to its location on
the outside of the steamers, were unable to
get at the fire. At one time there was grave
apprehensions for the Ashdell. The heat
from the mass of burning cotton was in
tense, and on the starboard side Of the ship
the paint peeled off in great flakes and
dropped into the riven Her sides were hot,
but other than thu 'sss Of her paint no dam
age was done to the vessel. The cotton on
the lighter was shipped by the Central Rail
road Company for A. Norden a.
Co, of Charleston, and was marked
as follows: 81 bales, E L 80 bales, l.
Y S % bales, p W K bales, B V I 81 bales,
JP V 20 bales, Y o r 90 bales. 1t was all
insured.
The origin of the fire is unknown. A
shore time before it broke out small steam
launch passed by, emitting a shower of
sparks, and the superstition is that some of
them lodged in the cotton. Another thing
which obtained general Endorsement is that
one of the sailors aboard of the Ashdell was
smoking and that unthinkingly he dumped
the ashes from his pipe over the side of the
vessel upon the cotton.
THE LIGHTER UNCOVERED.
TheIighter was put alongside of the Ash
dell, Saturday forenoon. Il was then COW
cred with tarpaulins, but it was uncovered
yesterday morning to count the cotton, and
was left uncovered and exposed during the
day. The loss will approximate $1,000, be-
sides the damage to the lighter and the
Ashdell. The captain of the steamship
called survey ON his vessel last night, but
the report was not made known.
A portion of the damaged cotton from the
lighter Briefly Hill, which had been dis
charged on the wharf at the lower press
again burst into flames yesterday morning,
and considerable difficulty was had in ex
tinguishing the fire. The damage was
slight, however
Charleston, which has been, with one
or two exceptions, without a fire, is falling
into line with Savannah, though the fires
reported from there are not extensive. Fol
lowing tine fire on the Bothal last Friday, @
warehouse fire was reported on Saturday al
Robertson, Taylor & Co.'S warehouse, anc
also a fire ON the steamship Newcastle
Neither fire was serious, however, and the
loss is comparatively small.